A53701:104
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution
A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to join themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to join themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...A guide to church-fellowship and order according to the gospel-institution wherein these following particulars are distinctly handled, I. The necessity of believers to joyn themselves in church-order, II. The subject matter of the church, III. The continuation of a church-state, and of the administration of evangelical ordinances of worship, briefly vindicated, IV. What sort of churches the disciples of Christ may and ought to joyn themselves unto as unto entire communion / by ... John Owen ...
London: printed for William Marshall, 1692
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
(1.) That the Discipline of Christ be duly exercised in it, according unto his mind, and by the Rules of his Prescription. There never was any Sect, Order, or Society of men in the world, designed for the Preservation and Promotion of Virtue and things Praise-worthy, but they had Rules of Discipline proper unto the Ends of their Design, to be observed in and by all that belong unto them. Where ⟨p. 66⟩the Erection of such Societies is continued in the World, as it is much in the Papacy, both their Constitution, and their Conversation, depend on the especial Rules of Discipline which they have framed unto themselves. And this is done by them in great Variety; for being ignorant of the Discipline of the Gospel, and so esteeming it insufficient unto their Design, they have made no end of Coining Rules unto themselves. To suppose that our Lord Jesus Christ, who in this Church-state according unto his infinite Wisdom, hath erected the most perfect Society for the most perfect Ends, of Religion, of Obedience towards God, of Love and Usefulness among our selves, hath not appointed a Discipline, and given Rules concerning its Administration, for the Preservation of that Society, and the attaining of those Ends, is highly injurious unto his Honour and Glory.
(1.) That the Discipline of Christ be duly exercised in it, according unto his mind, and by the Rules of his Prescription. There never was any Sect, Order, or Society of men in the world, designed for the Preservation and Promotion of Vertue and things Praise-worthy, but they had Rules of Discipline proper unto the Ends of their Design, to be observed in and by all that belong unto them. VVhere ⟨p. 66⟩the Erection of such Societies is continued in the VVorld, as it is much in the Papacy, both their Constitution, and their Conversation, depend on the especial Rules of Discipline which they have framed unto themselves. And this is done by them in great Variety; for being ignorant of the Discipline of the Gospel, and so esteeming it insufficient unto their Design, they have made no end of Coyning Rules unto themselves. To suppose that our Lord Jesus Christ, who in this Church-state according unto his infinite VVisdom, hath erected the most perfect Society for the most perfect Ends, of Religion, of Obedience towards God, of Love and Usefulness among our selves, hath not appointed a Discipline, and given Rules concerning its Administration, for the Preservation of that Society, and the attaining of those Ends, is highly injurous unto his Honour and Glory.